Physical Activity Participation in Kindergarten and Children’s Cognitive and Academic Ability

Promoting physical activity (PA) among children is a key research area of interest. Recently, there has been a desire to expand research linking PA and positive child development to two specific areas. First, there is a need to translate the longstanding and evidence-based findings for PA among adolescents to younger populations of children including those in the kindergarten years (ages 4 to 6). Second, there is a need to apply a social justice perspective to the PA disparities found among underserved children to develop nuanced evidence regarding how PA behaviors and outcomes may vary across sub-groups of children. This dissertation aligns itself with these recent PA research efforts. Specifically, it seeks to further evidence regarding how PA participation manifests among children in the kindergarten years, with particular foci on (a) its potential to increase cognitive and academic outcomes and (b) its varying effects for different children. As such, this dissertation exists at the intersection of social work, public health, and education. The first analysis is an examination of PA behaviors across 10 different sub-types with a secondary focus on what demographic characteristics may be associated with participation in each form. The second analysis is an examination of whether schools’ provision of PA in the form of physical education and recess is associated with students’ cognitive and academic ability. Finally, the third analysis is a meditational examination of whether parent’s enrollment of their children in organized PA is associated with cognitive and academic ability.Doctor of Philosoph

Better Engaging Social Science Graduate Students in Introductory Research Methods Courses: A Class Activity

This paper outlines a classroom activity to help students engage in research methods and lessen anxiety and apprehension commonly associated with research methods courses. The described class activity offers students a shared research experience to promote the skills necessary to understand, conduct and translate research into ethical social science practice. The activity was conducted in a graduate social work programme but is applicable across the social sciences. Content covered includes sampling, research design, ethical considerations, brief evaluation and helping students think critically about ways to improve research methods in order to facilitate competencies necessary for evidence-based practice (EBP). An introduction to the activity, class discussion points including integration throughout the course, and implications for curricula and practice are discussed

The Impact of Household Possessions on Youth\u27s Academic Achievement in the Ghana YouthSave Experiment

Households play an important role in youth’s academic achievement. Household assets as part of youth’s family background have been found to have a significant impact on youth’s academic achievement. In this study, the impact of household possessions on youth’s academic achievement in the Ghana YouthSave experiment is investigated. Findings support the hypothesized positive direction of the impact of household possessions on academic achievement of youth. Using propensity score optimal matching and matching estimators, results show youth from households that reported owning at least one of the five household items measured scored almost 1 unit higher on English than their peers from households that do not own any. However, results indicate ownership of household possessions do not have a statistically significant impact on Math scores of youth in the Ghana YouthSave experiment. Although the impact of ownership of household possessions on English scores is consistent across different tests used in this study, the impact of ownership of household possessions on Math scores is less conclusive. Policy implications are discussed

A systematic review of conceptualizations and operationalizations of youth polyvictimization

Violence against youth is a global issue impacting millions each year. Increasingly, research has focused on studying those impacted by multiple forms of violence, or polyvictims. Evidence strongly suggests that polyvictimized youth tend to have worse physical and mental health outcomes than those who have experienced single forms of violence. Moreover, minoritized youth (i.e., racial and/or sexual minority youth, youth with disabilities) are more likely to experience polyvictimization, making this a social justice and equity concern. To date, there is no universal consensus on what exactly constitutes polyvictimization. This systematic review aims to examine the ways in which polyvictimization is being studied to inform both research and practice. As such, relevant databases were searched to amass the extant literature related to youth polyvictimization internationally. Empirical studies published since 2006 that focused on youth (under age 18) polyvictimization were included. After the review process, 264 studies met eligibility criteria, however 55 studies employed person-centered/finite mixture analyses and were removed for a separate review, resulting in 209 featured in the current systematic review. Results demonstrate that researchers are defining and operationalizing polyvictimization in different ways: (a) using individual victimization event counts; (b) employing domain-based counts; and (c) taking a “highest-victimized” percentage of their sample. The most used measurement tool was the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, though other validated tools and researcher-constructed questions were frequently utilized. Research on polyvictimization is burgeoning worldwide; however, this research is being conducted in disparate ways, making it difficult to compare findings and further advance the field.</p

A National Typology of Health Service Regulation in Assisted Living

Background and Objectives State regulating agencies use 350 different licenses and certifications to govern assisted living (AL), resulting in significant variation in regulations governing health services, the scope of practice, and capacity. This lack of standardization makes it difficult to compare and contrast AL operations and residents’ outcomes across similarly regulated communities. Research Design and Methods We used qualitative and quantitative methods to empirically develop and describe a typology of state AL regulations that captures inter and intra-state variation. Based on the rules governing health services, we created regulatory specificity scores for five thematic dimensions: medication administration, third-party care, skilled nursing, medication review, and licensed nurse staffing. With these scores, we conducted a K-means cluster analysis to identify groups of AL license types. To differentiate the regulatory types, we calculated standardized mean differences across structure, process, outcome, and resident characteristics of the AL communities licensed under each type. Results We identified six types of AL differentiated by the regulatory provisions governing health services: Housing, Holistic, Hybrid, Hospitality, Healthcare, and Health Support. The types align with previous work and reflect tangible differences in resident characteristics, health service structures, processes, and outcomes. Discussion and Implications This typology effectively captures differences across regulated dimensions and can inform and support quality of care. Researchers, policymakers, and consumers may benefit from using this typology and acknowledging these differences in AL licensure when designing research studies, developing policies, and selecting an AL community

Recommendations for Medical and Mental Health Care in Assisted Living Based on an Expert Delphi Consensus Panel A Consensus Statement

Importance Assisted living (AL) is the largest provider of residential long-term care in the US, and the morbidity of AL residents has been rising. However, AL is not a health care setting, and concern has been growing about residents’ medical and mental health needs. No guidance exists to inform this care. Objective To identify consensus recommendations for medical and mental health care in AL and determine whether they are pragmatic. Evidence Review A Delphi consensus statement study was conducted in 2021; as a separate effort, the extent to which the recommendations are reflected in practice was examined in data obtained from 2016 to 2021 (prepandemic). In the separate effort, data were from a 7-state study (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas). The 19 Delphi panelists constituted nationally recognized experts in medical, nursing, and mental health needs of and care for older adults; dementia care; and AL and long-term care management, advocacy, regulation, and education. One invitee was unavailable and nominated an alternate. The primary outcome was identification of recommended practices based on consensus ratings of importance. Panelists rated 183 items regarding importance to care quality and feasibility. Findings Consensus identified 43 recommendations in the areas of staff and staff training, nursing and related services, resident assessment and care planning, policies and practices, and medical and mental health clinicians and care. To determine the pragmatism of the recommendations, their prevalence was examined in the 7-state study and found that most were in practice. The items reflected the tenets of AL, the role of AL in providing dementia care, the need for pragmatism due to the diversity of AL, and workforce needs

As-Needed Prescribing and Administration of Psychotropic Medications in Assisted Living: A 7-State Study

Psychotropic medications administered on an as-needed basis, often designated as pro re nata (or PRN, hereafter as-needed), can alleviate acute symptoms and facilitate deprescribing, although as-needed use is associated with negative outcomes such as polypharmacy and drug interactions. The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which PRN psychotropic medications are prescribed and administered to assisted living (AL) residents, overall and in relation to resident- and community-level characteristics

To What Extent Do Local Nursing Home Prescribing Patterns Relate to Psychotropic Prescribing in Assisted Living?

In nursing homes (NHs), psychoactive medication use has received notable attention, but less is known about prescribing in assisted living (AL). This study examined how antipsychotic and antianxiety medication prescribing in AL compares with NHs

Dementia and COVID-19 Infection Control in Assisted Living in Seven States.

Assisted living (AL) is the largest residential long-term care provider in the United States, including for persons with Alzheimer\u27s disease and related dementias. Despite recognizing the challenge of infection control for persons with dementia, this study of 119 AL communities is the first to describe dementia-relevant COVID-19 infection control across different types of AL communities, and to discuss implications for the future